Carmen Ramírez de Arellano

Competitive Gold‐Activation Modes in Terminal Alkynes: An Experimental and Mechanistic Study

The competition between π- and dual σ,π-gold-activation modes is revealed in the gold(I)-catalyzed heterocyclization of 1-(o-ethynylaryl)urea. A noticeable effect of various ligands in gold complexes on the choice of these activation modes is described. The cationic [Au(IPr)](+) (IPr=2,6-bis(diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) complex cleanly promotes the π activation of terminal alkynes, whereas [Au(PtBu3 )](+) favors intermediate σ,π species. In this experimental and mechanistic study, which includes kinetic and cross-over experiments, several σ-gold, σ,π-gold, and other gold polynuclear reaction intermediates have been isolated and identified by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, or MALDI spectrometry. The ligand control in the simultaneous or alternative π- and σ,π-activation modes is also supported by deuterium-labeling experiments.

NHC-stabilized gold(I) complexes: suitable catalysts for 6-exo-dig heterocyclization of 1-(o-ethynylaryl)ureas.

3-Substituted 1-(o-ethynylaryl)ureas 1 selectively undergo either 6-exo-dig or 5-endo-dig cyclization (to give 4-methylene-3,4-quinazolin-2-ones 2 or indoles 3, respectively) depending on the choice of the metal, ligand, and reaction conditions. The best results (up to 96% yield) in the preparation of the hydroamination products 2 are achieved with the highly bulky NHC-stabilized cationic gold(I) complex [Au(IPr)](+). Conversely, ureas bearing an internal alkyne lead to the 5-endo-dig cyclization mode regardless of the gold(I) complex employed. Whereas the nature of the substituent at N-3 does not have any influence on the regiochemistry observed, it does, in some cases, affect the efficiency of these transformations.

[1,2,3]Triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine derivatives as molecular chemosensors for zinc(II), nitrite and cyanide anions

Three recently prepared tridentate ligands TPF, TPS and TPT, based on the triazolopyridine–pyridine nucleus possessing fluorescent properties, have been tested as chemosensors for metal ions. A particular response is obtained in the case of ZnTPT+2. The Zn2+ TPT 1 : 1 complex has proved to be an efficient chemosensor for anions especially nitrite and cyanide.

The Selective Synthesis of Metallanucleosides and Metallanucleotides: A New Tool for the Functionalization of Nucleic Acids

Nucleobases team up: the efficient and selective preparation of purine-derived metallanucleosides, metallanucleotides, and metalladinucleotides having M-C bonds (M=Ir(III), Rh(III)) is reported for the first time. The results presented may be applied to the synthesis of functionalized nucleic acids, or DNA/RNA-modified segments.

Novel strategy for the synthesis of fluorinated β-amino acid derivatives from Δ2-oxazolines

Abstract Racemic and chiral non-racemic β-fluoroalkyl-β-amino acid derivatives have been prepared in two steps starting from 2-alkyl-Δ2-oxazolines and fluorinated imidoyl chlorides. Subsequent chemoselective reduction of the C-masked β-enamino acid derivatives initially formed provided the target β-amino acids. The process takes place with total chemoselectivity, high yields and satisfactory diastereoselectivity.

Single Heteroatom Fine-Tuning of the Emissive Properties in Organoboron Complexes with 7-(Azaheteroaryl)indole Systems

The application of organoboron compounds as light-absorbing or light-emitting species in areas as relevant as organic electronics or biomedicine has motivated the search for new materials which contribute to the progress of those applications. This article reports the synthesis of four-coordinate boron complexes based on the unexplored 7-(azaheteroaryl)indole ligands. An easy synthetic approach has enabled the fine-tuning of the electronic structure of the organoboron species by modifying a heteroaromatic component in the conjugated system. Furthermore, a comprehensive characterization by X-ray diffraction, absorption and emission spectroscopy, both in solution and in the solid state, cyclic voltammetry, and computational methods has evidenced the utility of this simple strategy. Large Stokes shifts have been achieved in solid thin-films which show a range of emitted light from blue to orange. The synthesized compounds have been used as biocompatible fluorophores in cell bioimaging.

Remote Control by π-Conjugation of the Emissive Properties of Fischer Carbene-BODIPY Dyads.

The synthesis, structure, and complete characterization of mono- and bimetallic dyads joining Fischer carbene complexes and BODIPY chromophores are reported. In these organometallic species, the Fischer carbene complex is attached to the BODIPY moiety through a p-aminophenyl group linked at the C8 carbon atom of the BODIPY core. The photophysical properties, namely the corresponding UV/vis absorption and emission spectra of these new metal-carbene complexes, are analyzed and discussed. It is found that whereas the absorption of the considered dyads strongly resembles that of the parent 4-anilinyl-substituted BODIPY, the fluorescence emission is significantly reduced in these species, very likely as a result of a Förster-type energy transfer mechanism. At variance, the replacement of the pentacarbonyl-metal(0) fragment by a carbonyl group leads to high fluorescence emission intensity. In addition, the emissive properties of the BODIPY core in these organometallic dyads can be tuned by remote groups by means of π-conjugation, as supported by density functional theory calculations.

New Fluorinated Peptidomimetics through Tandem Aza-Michael Addition to α-Trifluoromethyl Acrylamide Acceptors : Synthesis and Conformational Study in Solid State and Solution

A range of partially modified retro (PMR) psi[NHCH(2)] peptide mimetics containing a hydrolytically stable CH(2)CH(CF(3))CO unit have been synthesized. The first kind of peptidomimetics is obtained from the highly efficient aza-Michael addition of different amines to alpha-trifluoromethyl acrylamide acceptors. Subsequent deprotection of the amino group furnishes the key common intermediate for the synthesis of other families of peptidomimetics: dipeptides, tripeptides, peptidomimetics containing a urea moiety, and structures containing two units of alpha-trifluoromethyl-beta(2)-alanine. Finally, a conformational study of several of the newly synthesized peptidomimetics, performed with the aid of X-ray analysis and NMR techniques, shows a beta-turn-like conformation for the structures both in the solid state and in solution.

Switchable palladium-catalyst reaction of bromomethyl sulfoxides, CO, and N-nucleophiles: aminocarbonylation at Csp3 versus oxidative carbonylation of amines.

The palladium-catalyzed reaction of α-bromomethyl sulfoxides, carbon monoxide, and N-nucleophiles follows different reaction pathways according to the catalytic system and the reaction conditions. The Pd-xantphos catalyst affords high yields of α-sulfinyl amides by an aminocarbonylation process and is the first example of this type of transformation for a nonbenzylic sp(3)-hybridized carbon. On the other hand, the oxidative carbonylation of amines occurs with α-bromomethyl sulfoxides, carbon monoxide, and catalytic Pd(PPh(3))(4) under aerobic conditions, yielding ureas and oxalamides from either primary or secondary amines. The reaction with ambident nucleophiles such as amino alcohols was highly selective and took place exclusively at the amino group despite the presence of the alcohol functionality. In parallel to the reaction paths for simple amines, amino alcohols were converted into hydroxy sulfinyl amides when the reaction was catalyzed by Pd-xantphos, while Pd(PPh(3))(4) catalyst afforded cyclic carbamates. The alkoxycarbonylation reaction of bromomethyl sulfoxides with simple alcohols and CO leading to the corresponding sulfinyl esters is also described.

Mono- and Bimetallic Zwitterionic Chromium(0) and Tungsten(0) Allenyls

A series of stable chiral (racemic), formally neutral, zwitterionic mono- and bimetallic M(CO)5[C(OEt)═C═CR(NHC)] (M = Cr, W) σ-allenyls are ready available by the addition of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) to Cr(0) and W(0) alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes. Different classes of NHCs, (e.g., 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene, 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene, and their six- and seven-membered analogues and 1,3-bis(dimethyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) were employed as nucleophiles in these C-C bond-forming reactions yielding the novel complexes in essentially quantitative yields. A systematic experimental and computational study of the electronic properties of the Cr- and W-allenyls shows that their UV-vis spectra are directly influenced by the structure of the heterocyclic moiety derived from the NHC (ring size, substituents on the N atoms) and by the nature of the metal fragment (Cr/W). The electron-releasing nature of these complexes allows them to participate in electron-transfer reactions in the ground state, leading to a type of charged α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbenes that incorporate an NHC fragment in their structure.